Affordability, privacy, and room space for growing families are major challenges in Vancouver’s housing market. This project tackles the issue of available housing options by developing an infill house to provide a functional, reasonably priced, and highly sustainable two-bedroom home within Vancouver’s strict laneway house guidelines for a young couple wanting to raise a family.

The overall design maximizes the living area while maintaining a strong relationship with the lane, the street, and the existing property. Despite its small area, the project provides considerable interior and exterior livable spaces, while increasing neighbourhood density and engaging the laneway as means of contributing to Vancouver’s eco-density goals of increased livability and reduced environmental impacts. ‘In-between spaces’ such as the balcony, covered entry, and gated yards are designed to provide buffer zones between the main property and the laneway, allowing the house a sense of identity and place within a location that was not originally designed for a house to exist. Internally, skylights and sloped surfaces are employed to increase daylighting and natural ventilation. The plan shares moments of visual connection but also private spaces for working and living.